BUFFALO, N.Y. — M&T Bank announced that for the third year in a row it has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion in the 2021 Disability Equality Index (DEI).
The DEI was developed by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability: IN, in consultation with disability advocates and business leaders as a comprehensive benchmarking tool for disability inclusion. The Index measures key performance indicators including culture and leadership; enterprise-wide access; employment practices; community engagement; supplier diversity; and non-U.S. operations.
“We are proud to be a place where people with disabilities are welcome, included and have an environment where they can succeed,” said Tracy Woodrow, M&T’s chief human resources officer in a statement to media. “M&T remains committed to building a diverse and inclusive team focused on delivering the best for our customers and communities.”
As part of this commitment to building an inclusive and diverse team, M&T partners with The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a Delaware-based organization focused on employment for adults with disabilities nationwide. Through this partnership, M&T works with adults with autism to tackle critical business needs within M&T’s Banking Services/Systems Administration, Data Solutions Reporting and IPDS departments.
“At M&T, we understand that the only way to provide a best-in-class customer experience is through a best-in-class employee experience,” said Glenn Jackson, M&T’s chief diversity officer. “When employees are empowered to be their best selves, we can make a difference in people’s lives throughout all of the many diverse communities we serve.”
As part of M&T Bank’s employee engagement efforts, the company also operates more than 70 employee resource groups in communities across its footprint. These groups play an important role in making the company a better workplace.
Recently, M&T’s Disability Advocacy Network (DAN) Resource Group guided the implementation and launch of M&T’s collaboration with Magnusmode, a free app dedicated to making the world a more accessible place for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. The collaboration created new digital guides that provide visual cues and step-by-step instructions to help people access fundamental banking services at M&T.
Earlier this year, M&T Bank also released its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report reflecting the bank’s commitment to operating with integrity, candor, collaboration, ownership, and curiosity to contribute to a better future for the communities it serves.